Swinging door support



SWINGING DOOR SUPPORT Filed July 14, 1958 assembly as a whole.

United States Patent a 2,972,188 'SWINGING DooRl SUPPORT BertramM. Shean, Chicago, Ill., assgnor to v George W. Houlsby, Jr., Chicago, Ill.

Filed July 14, 195s, ser.` No. 748,242 v s claims. (c1. 2in-16) 1tion with a high effective capacity of the mounting structure to retain the door firmly in any position of adjustment on the shaft.

Another object is to provide improved door mounting means in which the functional capacities recited in -the above object are provided by very simple structure of great strength, which is exceptionally well suited for economical manufacture.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description of the exemplary form of the invention shown in the drawings, in which:

Figure l is a partially sectioned side view of a swinging door mount incorporating the invention;

Fig. v2 is a horizontal sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of Figs. 1 and `3; and Y Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view takeny along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

As shown in the drawings, the door mounting structure embodying the present invention supports a swinging door in an offset position on a control shaft 12,

which projects upwardly from a door control unit 14v recessed below the basic floor surface 16 underlying the door. Designed to controlopening and closing movement of the door 10, the control unit 14 itself has a conventional construction requiring no description here. A control unit suitable for this purpose is shown in U.S. Patent No. 2,752,627, issued July 3, 1956.' lf desired, the control unit 14 can be, equipped with power actuating means for rotating the control shaft. 12 in a door opening direction. A power actuated control unit of this character is disclosed in U.S.' Patent No. 2,789,- 814, issued April 23, 1957.

The control unit 14 is installed bodily as a fully integrated assembly in which the position of the upwardly protruding control shaft 12 is fixed in'irelation to the In installing the control unit 14 on a commercial basis it is not feasible to locate the control shaft 12 in the horizontal plane lwith the same precision in relation to the adjacent door jambs 18 (only one of which is shown in Figs. 1 and 2) as that which must be provided ultimately between the door 'jambs and the coacting door 10. Hence, it may be necessary to adjust the horizontalposition of the door10 on the supportingshaft 12 to obtain a proper fit between the door and the coacting jamb structure. At the same time it may be necessary to adjust the kdoor 10 vertically on the shaft 12 not only to obtain the 2,972,788 Patented Feb. 28,1961

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proper t between the top edge (not shown) of the door and the adjacent portion of the coacting door frame structure, which includesk the door jamb 18, vbut also to compensate for some accidental variations in different door installations.

Excepting for the upwardly protruding control shaft 12, the control unit 14 is installed ush with or slightly below the floor surface 16, depending upon whether a threshold or dress plate is used.

As supported on the shaft 12 by the exceptionally sturdy, yet economical, mounting structure provided by the present invention, the door 10 can be readily adjusted relative to the shaft not only horizontally but also vertically and angularly to any position within a Aconsiderable range which is sufficient to accommodate torque transmitting arm 20 having an improved construction well adapted for economical manufacture.

Formed` basically as a single unitary forging, the arm 20 is designed at one end 22 to receive the upwardly projecting end of the control shaft 12. Relieved at one side to form a longitudinal flat surface 24, the otherwise cylindrical upper end of the shaft 12 fits intol al vertical opening 26 in the coacting arm end22. The arm opening 26 is shaped transversely torconform substantially to the transverse shaping of the shaft. Thus, a portion 28 of the otherwise cylindrical wall of the opening 26 protrudes radially inward to engage the shaft flat 24.

The upper end of the arm opening 26 is somewhat enlarged by a shallow counterbore which forms a seat for an annular collar 30. l The collar 30 -ispfixed to ,the upper face of the arm 20 by a peripheral weld 32 and becomes an integral part of the arm structure. The collar 30 is internally threaded to receive an externally threaded adjusting plug 34 which extends downwardly from the collar into engagement with the upper end of the shaft l12. j A A precise vertical adjustmentv of the arm 20 relative to the shaft 12 is effected by inserting a screwdriver (not shown) into a kerf 36 in the upper end of the adjusting plug 34 and rotating the plug in the threaded collar 30. The plug 34 has sufficient length to provide a substan, tial range of vertical adjustment of the arm 20 on the shaft 12. f The arm 20 is locked in any position of vertical adjustment on the shaft 12 in a very simple yet highly effective manner. For this purpose the arm structure, including the collar 30, extending around one side of the adjusting plug 34 and control shaft 12 is cut through from top to bottom by a transverse vertical slot 38 extending radially outward from the plug 34. An Allen head screw 40, inserted in a countersunk bore 42 in the arm structure on one side of the Slot 38, extends across the slot 38 into a threaded bore 44 in the arm structure on the opposite side of the slot.

Tightening of the .screw 40 causes the arm structure defining the opening 26 to contract tightly around the shaft 12 to hold the arm 20 firmly in place on the shaft. At the same time, the collar 30 is contracted around the plug 34, thus producing strong binding forces between the engaged threads of the collar and plug whichprcclude rotation of'the plug out of its position ofadjustment. I v l The shaft end of the arm 20 is covered and Yskirtedby a dress cap46 overlying the collar 30 and extending ,'.all the way to the door 10. The cap 46is removably fsecured in place by a single screw 48 extending down into a central threaded hole 49 in the adjusting plug 34.

The lower marginal edge of the door is formed by downwardly open metal channel structure comprising two fiat skirt elements 50, 52, vparallel to the plane of Vthe door and extending downwardly a substantial distance from opposite sides of a horizontal bridge element 54 in the door. v

The arm has an offset door -suppor't section 56v perpendicular to the plane of the door 10` and extending into underlying relation to the bridge element 54 from the control shaft end 22 of the arm. As shown, this door support section passes through an opening 58 in the skirt element 50, which is masked by the cap 46. The upper face of the inner end of the arm section 56 engages the underside of a rectangular pin plate 60 secured to the bridge element 54.

Provision is made for supporting the door 10 at either a low level or a high level on the arm 20. For low level support, the pin plate 60 is attached directly to the bridge element 54. High level support is provided by inserting between the pin plate 60 and the bridge element 54 a shim plate 62 having a thickness of about 3% which is used when the installation includes a 1/2" threshold.

A cylindrical pin 64, rigidly attached to the plate 60, extends vertically downward into a guide slot 66 formed in the inner end of the arm section 56. The slot 66 is elongated in the plane of the vertical door 10 and dimensioned perpendicularly to the plane of the door to form a close sliding fit with the pin 64.

The position of the door 10 with respect to the arm 20 is adjusted horizontally in the plane of the door by a horizontal screw 68 engaging the side of the pin 64 adjacent the nearest door jamb 1S. The screw 68 is threaded through a horizontal bore 70 formed in the arm 20 in parallel relation to the plane of the door 1) and having an innerend intersecting the arm slot 66. The outer end of the threaded bore 70 opens toward the nearest door jamb 18 in alignment with a screwdriver opening 72 defined in an end skirt 74 on the door 10,

l which connects the t-wo adjacent ends of the side skirts 50, 52. To adjust the screw 68, a screwdriver (not shown) is inserted through the opening 72 to engage a kerf 76 in the outer end of the screw.

It will be understood that pin 64 reacts horizontally against the adjacent end of the screw 68, due to the fact that the center of gravity of the pivoted door 10 is located to the side of the pin 64 opposite from the screw.

The position of the door 10 relative to the arm 20 is further stabilized and adjusted about a vertical axis by means of a stabilizing bar or blade section 78 of the arm, which is perpendicular to the door support section 56. The blade section 78 projects away from the adjusting screw end of the slot 66 to a free end 80, which is flattened and widened vertically as shown in Figs. l and 2.

This vertically widened end of the arm 20` defines two vertically spaced pairs of horizontally spaced, threaded holes 82 and 84. The vertical spacing between the upper pair of holes 82 and the underlying pair of holes 84 is equal to the thickness of the shim plate 62.

Use of the shim plate 62 to support the door 10 at its upper level on the arm 20 brings the upper pair of arm holes 82 into opposed alignment with two horizontally spaced openings 86, 88 formed in the respective skirts S0, 52. Two adjusting screws 90, 92 are inserted through the respective skirt openings 86, 88 and threaded into the upper arm holes 82. Two washers 94, 96, interposed between the heads of the respective screws 90, 92 and the skirts 50, 52, cover the skirt openings 86, 88, which are substantially larger than the screws.

The position of the door 10 on the arm 20V is adjusted about a vertical axis by loosening one of the screws 90, 92 and tightening the other screw. When both screws 90, 92 are tight, the door 10 is firmly'held in its adjusted position on the army 20.

When the door 10 isk supported at its lower lever on the arm 20, which does not require use of the shim 62, the adjusting screws 90, 82 are threaded into the lower pair of arm holes 84.

The provision for adjustably supporting the door 10 at either a high level or a low level on the arm 20 multiplies the vertical range through which the door can be precisely yadjusted to any desired position by the vertically adjustable support arm 20.

While I have shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be apparent that variations and modifications thereof may be made without .departing from the underlying principles and scope of the invention. I therefore, desire by `the following claims to include all such variations and modifications by which substantially the results of my invention may be obtained through the use of substantially the same or equivalent means.

I claim.

1. In a swinging door assembly, the combination of a generally fiat vertical door including a horizontal bridge element on the lower end thereof and two skirt elements depending from opposite sides of the bridge -element in generallyparallel relation to the central plane of the door, a shim plate placed fiat against the underside of said bridge element at one end thereof, a pin plate secured to said bridge element in underlying relation to said shim plate, a pin depending rigidly from said pin plate, a horizontal arm having a door support section underlying said pin plate and defining a slot elongated parallel to the cenvtral plane of the door and receiving said depending pin, adjusting means on said arm engaging said pin to adjust the latter horizontally in said slot, said door support section of said arm projecting laterally to one side of said door, the projecting end of said door support section defining therein a downwardly open vertical opening, a rotatable door support shaft projecting upwardly into said opening, an internally threaded annular collar fixed to said door support section of said arm and encircling said opening in overlying relation to said shaft, an ex ternally threaded adjusting plug threaded into said collar and engaging the upper end of said shaft to adjust said arm vertically on the shaft, the end portion of said arm defining said opening and said collar defining a vertical slot therethrough extending radially outward from said adjusting plug and radially outward from said opening, a clamping screw spanning said slot and coacting with the shaft encircling portion of the arm to contract the 'latter tightly around said shaft and to clamp said adjusting plug, said arm including a blade section joining the door end of said door support section of the arm and projecting horizontally therefrom between said skirt'elements, the projecting end of said blade section defining two vertically spaced pairs of horizontally spaced openings, and two adjusting screws extending through said respective skirt elements and threaded into one of said pairs of blade openings.

2. In a swinging door assembly, the combination of a generally flat vertical door having a central plane and including on the lower end of the door two spaced skirt elements generally parallel to the central plane of thc door, a pin rigidly secured to said door and depending vertically downward between said skirt elements, a hon'- zontal arm defining a slot elongated parallel to the central plane of said door and receiving said pin, means sup porting said door on said arm, adjusting means on said arm engagaing said pin to adjust the latter horizontally in said slot, said arm including a door support section projecting laterally to one side of said door Vand having a' projecting end defining a downwardly open vertical opening therein, a rotatable door support shaft projecting upwardly into vsaid opening, an internally threaded annular collar fixed to said arm and encircling said opening in overlying relation to said shaft, and externally threaded adjustinguplug threaded into said collar and engaging the upper end of said shaft'toadjustv said arm vertically on the shaft, the end portion of said arm defining said opening and said collar defining a vertical slot therethrough extending radially outward from said adjusting plug and radially outward from said opening, a clamping screw spanning said slot and coacting with the shaft encircling portion of the arm to contract the latter tightly around said shaft, and to clamp said adjusting plug said arm including a blade section joining the door end of said door support section of the arm and projecting horizontally therefrom between said skirt elements, and two adjusting screws extending through said respective skirt elements and threaded into the end of said blade section remote from said door support section of the arm.

3. In a swinging door assembly, the combination of a generally flat vertical door having a central plane and including on the lower end of the door a horizonal bridge element and two skirt elements depending from opposite sides of the bridge element in generally parallel relation to the central plane of the door, a pin plate secured to said bridge element, a pin depending rigidly from said pin plate, a horizontal arm having a door support section underlying said pin plate and projecting laterally to one side of the door, said door support section of the arm defining a slot elongated parallel to the central plane of the door and receiving said depending pin, adjusting means on said arm engaging said pin to adjust the latter horizontally in said slot, the end of said door support section of said arm projecting beyond 'said door defining a downwardly open vertical opening therein, a rotatable f., i@ door sunport shaft projecting upwardly into said opening, an internally threaded annular collar fixed to said arm and encircling said opening in overlying relation to said shaft, an externally threaded adjusting plug threaded into said collar and engaging the upper end of said shaft to adjust said arm vertically on the shaft, said collar and the -portion of said door support section encircling one side of said opening defining a vertical slot therethrough extending radially outward from said adjusting plug and radially outward from said opening, a clamping screw spanning said slot and coacting with the shaft encircling portion of the arm to contract the latter tightly around said shaft and to clamp said adjusting plug, a dress cap covering the portion of said door support section of the arm projecting beyond the door, a retaining screw extending down through said cap and threaded into said plug, said arm including a blade section joining the door end of said door support section of the arm and projecting horizontally therefrom between said skirt elements, and two adjusting screws extending through said respective skirt elements and threaded into the projecting end ,of said blade section.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,793,013 Robertson Feb. 17, 1931 2,205,786 Bernhard June 25, .1940 2,530,331 Hubbs Nov. 14, 1950 2,673,367 Ferguson Mar. 30, 1954l 

